Flying machine



Oct. 15, 1929.

S. C. ANKER-HOLTH FLYING MACHINE 3Sheets-Sheet 1 NTOR.

Original Filed Oct. 12, 1926 %v 1929- I s. CPANKER-HOLTH 1,731,494

FLYING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 12. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 V INVE TOR.

Oct. 15, 1929. s. c. ANKER-HOLTH FLYING MACHINE 12, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet INVEN i l l l l l l l l l l i fl Original Filed 001;.

Patented 0a. 15, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLYING MACHINE Application filed October-12, 1926, Serial No. 141,208. Renewed larch 19, 1929.

My invention relates to the heavier-thanair type of flying machine and has among its salient objects to provide a flying machine which is capable of rising substantially vertically in the air from a condition of rest; to provide means for holding the machine upright and in a horizontal position during flight, even when passengers move around in it; to provide such a machine which is capable of being steered in any direction; to provide a machine of the character referred to which can have its direction of travel reversed-so that it can move either forwardly or rearwardly, as may be desired by the operator;

to provide a flying machine which will have a gradual descent in case-the motor or motors stop and, in general, to provide a new type of heavier-than-air flying machine with means :for automatically maintaining it on an even keel and with meansfor manually controlling the same. P

In order to explain my invention, I have. illustrated one embodiment thereof on the y three sheets" of drawings,

accompanying which I will now describe.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a flying machine embodying. my invention from above;

Figure 2 is aperspective' view of the same from beneath said machine; 7 Figure 3 is a frontend view thereof; Figure 4 is a vertical, cross sectional view taken on a position indicated by the line 44 Figure 5 is an axial sectional view through one of the electric clutch elements;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing one of the vanes with operating connections-for moving the same;

Figure 7 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view at the position indicated byline 7-7 of Fig- 3; and 4 Figure 8 is a view driving connections and to show in details the the automatic. elecf Referring nowin'detail to the drawings, my. invention as illustrated purposes, comprises a lon box-like body,

10, tapering and closed at its opposite ends,

as at 11. On its opposite sides, extending ating arm, 26, with with a' hand lever, 28, operating on arratchet for descriptive construction as indicated in Fig. 4, said wings being convexed upwardly in their main portion transversely and turned upwardly at their outer edges for the entire .len h thereof to insure a more steady descent s ould the motor stop. There is also provided forwardly and rearwardly of said longitudinally extending wings two pairs of planes, 14, 14 and 15, 15, mounted to-be rotated axially to raise and lower their forward and rearward edges.

Said box-like body, it will be seen, is positioned diagonally in cross section, relative 55 to the vertical, so that one corner thereof is the highest part, while at opposite sides thereof and between said corner line and said fixed wings, 12 and 13, are two triangular shaped compartments, extending longitudinally of 7 the machine, and designated 16 and 17. In the top wall of these compartments, forward- 1 and rearwardly of each, are openings or air shafts, 18, 19, 20 and 21, in which are control dampers or shutters, 18', 19', 20, and 21, mounted to turn on their axes and each group being connected to move together and all four groups being controlled and operated in a manner hereinafter again referred to. 8 Directly beneath each of said groups of shutters, or dampers, is a corresponding set positioned transversely of the set above and connected for manual control. Referring to Fig. 4, directly beneath the groups of shut- 35 ters, 18 and 19, .are the transverse shutters, designated, 22 and 23, the shutters of each group being connected together, as at 24, and the two groups being connected by a common shaft, 25, provided with an opera link, 27, connecting it segment 2-9;,for manual control, when it is desiredto 'close the air shafts 18 and 19, manually. ,;1wo corresponding groups of dampersorshutters are beneath the rearward shutters 20 and 21', but are not shown, the construction and arrangement being the same and the" connections for simultaneous operation being 'jthe same.

shafts, 38,

,Wlll describe the driving 53, While the pulley,

Toward the bottom of the air shafts, 18 and 19, and 20 and 21, are angularly disposed fan or propeller casings, as 30, 31, 32 and 33, open in 'the centers of their upper sides, as at 30, 31', 32 and 33, in register with the corresponding air shafts, 18, 19, and 20 and 21. WVithin these casings are propellers or fans, as 34, 35, 36 and'37, on drive 39, 40 and 41, anchored in suitable bearings at their lower ends in brackets, as 42, 42, and coming together at their upper ends in thetop of the body, as at 43, 43, and provided with worm gears, as 44, 44, in mesh with worms, as 45, on a drive shaft, 46.

Referring particularly to Figs. 7 and 8, I

of power mechanism. Two motors are shown, designated 47 and 48, with drive belts 49 and 50 therefrom to drive pulleys, 51 and 52 on the drive shaft, 46, above. Thus should one motor be disabled for any reason, the other would be operable or would continue to operate if both were being used at the same time. The drive shaft 46 is connected for driving a control shaft, 53, by a suitable belt connection at 54. Through these connections with the motors the propellers or fans 34, 35, 36 and 37 are driven in the air wells or shafts 18, 19,20 and 21, for drawing air through the shutters 18, 19, 20 and 21 and also the manually operated shutters 22 and 23, these being the only ones shown, but it being understood that there are'corresponding shutters beneath the shutters 20 and 21. Either the upper or thelower shutters, in each well, can be operated for closing the same. The upper shutters are connected for automatic operation to be further described. The automatic shutters are operated through flexible members, such as cables, 55 and 56, operating over pulleys, 57 1 and 58, forming partsof electric clutches, as 59, shown in Fig. 5, and in Fig. 8. These electric clutches may be of any suitable type, but as shown in Fig; 5; armature body, 60, with winding, 61, on shaft as 57, has a core portion, as 57 within said armature body, 60, with a coiled spring, 62, for normally separating said parts, said pulley also having one side of disc form, as 57, to engage with the face or end of said armature body, 60, when the same is energized, thus operating to drive said pulley 57 with said armature body, 60, which is secured to said shaft, 53, to turn therewith. Said armature body, 60, has connected therewith the usual commutator and brushes, as at 63, with electric wires, 64, thereto. All of these electric clutches are designated by the same numeral, 59, and are shown in Figs. 7 and 8, with the cables 55 and 56 running therefrom to the shutters 18, 19, 20', and '21. These electric clutches are electrically controlled from a battery, B, Fig. 8, witha swinging or pendulum switch mechanism comprising a standard, 65, in which swings a penduthey each comprise an' through line 72, to the other side of the batterv 15, contact 69 is connected through wire 69 to the brushes 59 and thence through wire 73, to wire 72 and to battery B, contact is connected through wire 70 with brushes 59 and thence through wire 75 to wire 72 and to the battery. Contact 71 is connected through wire 71 to brushes 59 and thence through wire 76 to wire 73 and thence to wire 72 to the battery B. Thus there are four electric clutches, as 59, and four pulleys controlled thereby, respectively, with cables to the four groups of shutters, with the swinging switch member, 66, operating automatically as the flying machine rocks or tilts in one direction or the other to cause the proper contact and thereby to operate the proper electric clutch and pulley to close the shutters necessary to cause the machine to right itself, that is, this swinging contact, through the electric connections and mechanisms, operates to automatically maintain the machine in a horizontal position. Said standard 65 and its swinging pendulum contact, is suspended by wires, 77 and arms78, from the body and within the box-like body thereof in the relative position as indicated in Fig. 8, and also in Fig. 7. An electric clutch, 79, with brushes 80, is shown in Fig. 8, for electrically controlling the drive from pulley 51 and shaft 46. The wires from this clutch, 81, are extended to any suitable place for operating said clutch electrically.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 6 in particular, there are mounted under the fixed wings, 12 and 13, in inclined position and in substantially the planes of the fans or propellers, swinging vanes, as 82, hinged at 83, 83, and operated by means of a shaft, 84, with arms, 85, 85, and links, 86, 86, said vanes being movable into and out of a pocket, as 87, formed in the side of the body, as indicated in Fig. 6. There are four of these vanes on each side of the machine, there being one at each side of each propeller case, and operable manually from two shafts, .88 and 89,- connected togetherfor operation by means of a sprocket chain, and sprocket wheels,- 91, 92. The shaft 88 is provided with a hand operating wheel, 93, and said shafts 88 and 89 are connected to the vane operating shafts, as 84, by means of a worm 94 and a worm gear, 95, as clearly indicated in Figs. 4 and 6. Thus these vanes can be opened and closed manually as desired for the purpose of propelling the machine forwardly or rearwardly. The air from the fans or propellers being directed against said vanes, or over or outside of them,

depending upon their adjusted positions.

Doors, as 96, are provided in the middle portion of each side for entrance of operators and passengers intothe interior of the body of the machine. Pontoons, 97, 97, are also provided on the under side of the machine, as illustrated, and any suitable rudder may be provided, as at 98, with means for operating the same in the usual manner.

The operation of my invention may be briefly described as follows:

With the shutters 18, 19, 20' and 21' and 22, 23, 24 and 25, at the upper ends of the airshafts or wells, 18, 19, 20 and 21 all open, as shown in Fig. 4, the operation of the fans or propellers 34, 35, 36 and 37 will cause a suction down through said air wells and will thereby cause the machine to rise as it sucks itself up through the air, discharging the air from the periphery of each of the fan casings.

When the desired height has been reached, the vanes, designated 82, may be opened as desired, depending upon which direction it isdesired to travel. Or, if those on one side are open and those on the other side are closed, opposed to each other, the machine can be turned around, and by reversing the vanes, the machine can be turned around in the opposite direction. I believe this will be clear from the showing made. The automatic electric control of the top groups of shutters,'18, 19, 20 and 21, it will be understood from the description, operates to maintain the ma chine on an even keel, or in a horizontal position, for if one end lowers the swinging pendulum contact will close the proper circuits to operate the opposite shutters and thus cause the machine to be righted.

I do not limit my invention to the details of construction and arrangement here shown for illustrative and descriptive purposes, as I realize that many changes can be made and many different constructions and arrangements can be made to embody the principles of my invention and I do not, therefore, limit the invention to the showing made, except as I may be limited by the hereto appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a flying machine a body, wings on opposite sides of said body extending longitudinally thereof, vertical air wells down through said body, propellers under said body for sucking air downwardly through said air wells, means for operating said propellers, and adjustable vanes against which said propellers discharge said air for the purpose described.

2. In a flying machine, a body, wings on opposite sides of said body extending longitudinally thereof, air wells down through said body with shutters for closing the same, propellers positioned to suck air down through said air wells when said shutters are open,

7 means for operating said propellers, and adjustable vanes against whlch said propellers through from the top, shutters for controlling the flow of air through said air wells, propeller fans for sucking air down through said air wells, means fordriving the same, said propeller fans being below said fixed wings, adjustable vanes atopposite sides of said propeller fans under said fixed wings and against which said' propeller fans discharge air to give movement forwardly or rear-wardly to said flying machine, and means for operating said shutters.

4. In a flying machine, a body, fixed wings at opposite sides thereof, said body having air wells downwardly therethrough from the top, shutters for controlling said air wells, means for automatically opening said shutters and for closing them, said means being electric, and a swinging contact element for automatically'closing the electric circuits which cause the operation of said shutters.

5. In a flying machine, a body, wings at opposite sides of said body, said body having a plurality of air wells down through the same from the top, shutters therein for con-v trolling the suction of air through said air wells, propeller fans for sucking air downwardly through said air wells, and means for automatically opening and closing saidshutters to maintain said flying machine in a horizontal position.

6. In a flying machine, abody, wings at opposite sides of said body, said body having a plurality of air wells down through the same from the top, shutters therein for controlling the suction of air through said air wells, propeller fans for sucking air downwardly through said air wells, means for manually opening and closing some of said shutters, and means for automatically opening and closing others of said shutters, and vanes adjustably mounted near said propeller fans for receiving thereagainst the air currents from said propeller fans for moving said flying machine.

7. In an aeroplane, a body, wings at opposite sides thereof, said body having air wells downwardly therethrough from the top,.propeller fans for sucking air downwardly through said air wells whereby to decrease the atmospheric pressure above said wings and to increase it beneath said wings for lift-j ing said aeroplane, adjustable vanes adjacent said propeller fans, under said wings, and

- fans, and means for controlling the passage of air downwardly through said air wells.

8. In a flying machine having a body and wings, means for raising and moving said flying machine including a plurality of air wells from the top downwardly through said body, propeller fans for sucking air clownward] y therethrough, shutters for controlling the air flow therethrough, means for operating said shutters, and means under said wings positioned to receive air currents thereagainst from said propeller fans for moving said flying machine horizontally.

9. In a flying machine, a body, wings on is opposite sides thereof convexed upwardly transversely thereof and upturned at their outer edges, planes at opposite sides of said body, forwardly and rearwardly (if said Wings, said "body having air wells downwardly therethrough,'control shutters there for, propeller fans for sucking air clownwardly through said air wells, adjustable van-cs under said wings near said propeller fans and adapted to be adjusted to receive air currents thereagainst from said propeller fans for moving said flyingmachine hori-vrzontally, means-for manually operating said control shutters, and electric means for automatically controlling said shutters, substantially as and for the purpose described.

' 10. In a flying machine, a body with wings,

four air wells downwardly through said body from the top, shutters for opening and closing said air wells, means for operating said shutters, propeller fans for sucking air throughsaid air Wells to decrease the air pressure above and to increase it below said wings, whereby to raise said flying machine, and means for causing said flying machine to 0 move horizontally..

11. In a flying machine, a body with wings,

a plurality of air wells down through said,

body with shutters for controlling the pas- I r sage of air therethrough, means for automatically operating said shutters to close or open said air wells, propellers for sucking air down through said air wells when open, and means for causing said flying machine to move horizontally forwardly or rearwardly.

,12. In aflyi'ng machine, a body, wings on opposite sides 'thereof extending longitudinally thereof, said body having a plurality of air wells therethrough from the top, control shutterstherein for closing and opening said air wells, means for automatically operating said shutters, said means including electric clutches and pulleys connected thereto, a

source of electric energy with connections and a gravity moved contact element adapted to close certain circuits as it is moved from one position to another by gravity, propeller fans for sucking air through said air wells, means for operating the same, and means for 13. Ina flying machine, a body, supporting 14. A flying machine including a body,-

wings on opposite sides, planes forwardly and rearwardly of said wings, on opposite sides of said body, said body having air wells down through the same from the top, shutters in said wells to be manually controlled,

other shutters to be automatically operated, electric means for automatically operating said latter shutters, and propeller fans for sucking air down through said wells.

Signed at. Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, this 7th day of October,

SEVERIN C. ANKER-HOLTH.

propelling said flying'machine horizontally. 

